Cheryl began hooking in 2003 after inheriting rug hooking equipment from her mother-in-law, who was a teacher of rug hooking and a fine artist in the medium. Her first rug was of her pet dog, generating a new passion. Cheryl became a trainee at the Southeastern McGowan workshop in Asheville, N.C. This quest took four years to secure her credentials as a certified McGowan rug hooking teacher which allows her to teach and share her art at Florence Thomas Art School in West Jefferson, N.C. and will be demonstrating at the Blue Ridge Artisan Center. In addition to hooking, Cheryl also knits, weaves and felts.

Rug hooking is considered a Heritage Craft with an interesting history, one that Cheryl wants to see flourish. Thus, when she received two North Carolina regional artist grants the resources were provided for Cheryl to explore rug hooking using large formats and to develop her own patterns keeping her art alive and fresh. Weaving and dyeing natural fibers is another passion Cheryl explores. Studying natural dyeing at John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasston, NC Cheryl became comfortable using lichen, berries and other garden plants to dye natural fibers. Harvesting fiber from local alpacas and sheep enables her to transform these natural fibers creating beautiful and exotic colors that are uniquely her own through dyeing and spinning process. Dyeing is an important part of her art.

Weaving and dyeing natural fibers is another passion Cheryl explores. Studying natural dyeing at John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasston, NC Cheryl became comfortable using lichen, berries and other garden plants to dye natural fibers. Harvesting fiber from local alpacas and sheep enables her to transform these natural fibers creating beautiful and exotic colors that are uniquely her own through dyeing and spinning process. Dyeing is an important part of her art.

Cheryl’s work can be seen at several galleries in the North Carolina Mountains. She lives in Creston, N.C. with her husband, son and dogs close to the scenic Pond Mountain.